Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea to release memoir 'Acid For The Children'
It sounds like a good read
Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 13th Aug 2019
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea will release his memorably monikered memoir ‘Acid For The Children’ this autumn.
Originally scheduled to hit the shelves last year, the 384-page autobiography will be released in the UK on Tuesday 5th November 2019 via Headline Publishing Group.
Featuring a foreword by Patti Smith, the book “takes readers on a deeply personal and revealing tour of Flea’s formative years, spanning from Australia to the New York City suburbs to, finally, Los Angeles.”
Flea began writing the book in April 2014 and he said of it last year: “It’s my great hope that it could be a book that could live beyond being a celebrity book or a rock star book and just stand on its own as a piece of literature. It ends where the Red Hot Chili Peppers begins.”
A plot synopsis for ‘Acid For The Children’ reads: “Through hilarious anecdotes, poetical meditations, and occasional flights of fantasy, Flea deftly chronicles the experiences that forged him as an artist, a musician, and a young man. His dreamy, jazz-inflected prose makes the Los Angeles of the 1970s and 80s come to gritty, glorious life, including the potential for fun, danger, mayhem, or inspiration that lurked around every corner. It is here that young Flea, looking to escape a turbulent home, found family in a community of musicians, artists, and junkies who also lived on the fringe. He spent most of his time partying and committing petty crimes. But it was in music where he found a higher meaning, a place to channel his frustration, loneliness, and love. This left him open to the life-changing moment when he and his best friends, soul brothers, and partners-in-mischief came up with the idea to start their own band, which became the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
“Acid for the Children is the debut of a stunning new literary voice, whose prose is as witty, entertaining, and wildly unpredictable as the author himself. It's a tenderly evocative coming-of-age story and a raucous love letter to the power of music and creativity from one of the most renowned musicians of our time.”
Born Michael Peter Balzary in Melbourne on 16th October 1962, Flea co-founded the Red Hot Chili Peppers alongside singer Anthony Kiedis, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons in Los Angeles the early 1980s.
The real names of 69 famous rock stars:
Brian Hugh Warner (Marilyn Manson)
Brian Hugh Warner (Marilyn Manson)
Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea to release memoir 'Acid For The Children'
2 of 69
Paul David Hewson (Bono)
Paul David Hewson (Bono)
Brian Hugh Warner (Marilyn Manson)
Brian Hugh Warner (Marilyn Manson)
Edward Louis Severson III (Eddie Vedder)
Edward Louis Severson III (Eddie Vedder)
William Bruce Rose (Axl Rose)
William Bruce Rose (Axl Rose)
Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury)
Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury)
Michael Peter Balzary (Flea)
Michael Peter Balzary (Flea)
Perry Bernstein (Perry Farrell)
Perry Bernstein (Perry Farrell)
Robert Deal (Mick Mars)
Robert Deal (Mick Mars)
Frank Ferrano (Nikki Sixx)
Frank Ferrano (Nikki Sixx)
Frank Edwin Wright III (Tré Cool)
Frank Edwin Wright III (Tré Cool)
Courtney Michelle Harrison (Courtney Love)
Courtney Michelle Harrison (Courtney Love)
Georg Albert Ruthenberg (Pat Smear)
Georg Albert Ruthenberg (Pat Smear)
Chaim Klein Witz (Gene Simmons)
Chaim Klein Witz (Gene Simmons)
James Newell Osterberg, JR. (Iggy Pop)
James Newell Osterberg, JR. (Iggy Pop)
Vincent Damon Furnier (Alice Cooper)
Vincent Damon Furnier (Alice Cooper)
Jeffrey Ross Hyman
Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Ross Hyman)
69 rock stars’ real names
Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Glenn Colvin)
Saul Hudson (Slash)
Saul Hudson (Slash)
Michael Ryan Pritchard (Mike Dirnt)
Michael Ryan Pritchard (Mike Dirnt)
Ronald James Padavona (Ronnie James Dio)
Ronald James Padavona (Ronnie James Dio)
Bree Joanna Alice Robinson (Brody Dalle)
Bree Joanna Alice Robinson (Brody Dalle)
Chad Robert Turton (Chad Kroeger)
Chad Robert Turton (Chad Kroeger)
Kim Bendix Petersen (King Diamond)
Kim Bendix Petersen (King Diamond)
Glenn Allen Anzalone (Glenn Danzig)
Glenn Allen Anzalone (Glenn Danzig)
James Owen Sullivan (The Rev)
James Owen Sullivan (The Rev)
Richard Allan Ream (Rikki Rockett)
Richard Allan Ream (Rikki Rockett)
Anthony Scott Flippen (Scott Stapp)
Anthony Scott Flippen (Scott Stapp)
Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (Synyster Gates)
Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (Synyster Gates)
Deborah Anne Dyer (Skin)
Deborah Anne Dyer (Skin)
Nicholas Jones (Nicky Wire)
Nicholas Jones (Nicky Wire)
Andrew Fetterly Wilkes Krier (Andrew W.K.)
Andrew Fetterly Wilkes Krier (Andrew W.K.)
Zachary James Baker (Zacky Vengeance)
Zachary James Baker (Zacky Vengeance)
Amy Lynn Hartzler (Amy Lee)
Amy Lynn Hartzler (Amy Lee)
Robert James Ritchie (Kid Rock)
Robert James Ritchie (Kid Rock)
William Perks (Bill Wyman)
William Perks (Bill Wyman)
Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson (Joey Tempest)
Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson (Joey Tempest)
Jeffrey Isbell (Izzy Stradlin)
Jeffrey Isbell (Izzy Stradlin)
Stanley Eisen (Paul Stanley)
Stanley Eisen (Paul Stanley)
Henry Garfield (Henry Rollins)
Henry Garfield (Henry Rollins)
Colin Flooks (Cozy Powell)
Colin Flooks (Cozy Powell)
Richard Harrison (Rick Parfitt)
Richard Harrison (Rick Parfitt)
Vincent Neil Wharton (Vince Neil)
Vincent Neil Wharton (Vince Neil)
Michael McKagan (Duff McKagan)
Michael McKagan (Duff McKagan)
Ian Kilmister (Lemmy)
Ian Kilmister (Lemmy)
John Baldwin (John Paul Jones)
John Baldwin (John Paul Jones)
Joan Larkin (Joan Jett)
Joan Larkin (Joan Jett)
Peter Byford (Biff Byford)
Peter Byford (Biff Byford)
Ray Burns (Captain Sensible)
Ray Burns (Captain Sensible)
Keith Palmer (Maxim Reality)
Keith Palmer (Maxim Reality)
Peter Baker (Ginger Baker)
Peter Baker (Ginger Baker)
Darrell Abbott (Dimebag Darrell)
Darrell Abbott (Dimebag Darrell)
William Michael Albert Broad (Billy Idol)
William Michael Albert Broad (Billy Idol)
Eric Patrick Clapp (Eric Clapton)
Eric Patrick Clapp (Eric Clapton)
Susan Janet Ballion (Siouxsie Sioux)
Susan Janet Ballion (Siouxsie Sioux)
David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones (David Bowie)
David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones (David Bowie)
Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)
Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)
John Simon Ritchie (Sid Vicious)
John Simon Ritchie (Sid Vicious)
Paul Daniel Frehley (Ace Frehley)
Paul Daniel Frehley (Ace Frehley)
Sebastian Bierk (Sebastian Bach)
Sebastian Bierk (Sebastian Bach)
Louis Firbank (Lou Reed)
Louis Firbank (Lou Reed)
John Graham Mellor (Joe Strummer)
John Graham Mellor (Joe Strummer)
Robert Bartleh Cummings (Rob Zombie)
Robert Bartleh Cummings (Rob Zombie)
Mark Feld (Marc Bolan)
Mark Feld (Marc Bolan)
David Howell Evans (The Edge)
David Howell Evans (The Edge)
Marvin Lee Aday (Meatloaf)
Marvin Lee Aday (Meatloaf)
Steven Victor Tallarico (Steven Tyler)
Steven Victor Tallarico (Steven Tyler)
John Michael Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne)
John Michael Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne)
John Francis Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi)
John Francis Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi)
John Anthony Gillis (Jack White)
John Anthony Gillis (Jack White)
Paul David Hewson (Bono)
Paul David Hewson (Bono)
Brian Hugh Warner (Marilyn Manson)
Brian Hugh Warner (Marilyn Manson)
Edward Louis Severson III (Eddie Vedder)
Edward Louis Severson III (Eddie Vedder)
William Bruce Rose (Axl Rose)
William Bruce Rose (Axl Rose)
Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury)
Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury)
Michael Peter Balzary (Flea)
Michael Peter Balzary (Flea)
Perry Bernstein (Perry Farrell)
Perry Bernstein (Perry Farrell)
Robert Deal (Mick Mars)
Robert Deal (Mick Mars)
Frank Ferrano (Nikki Sixx)
Frank Ferrano (Nikki Sixx)
Frank Edwin Wright III (Tré Cool)
Frank Edwin Wright III (Tré Cool)
Courtney Michelle Harrison (Courtney Love)
Courtney Michelle Harrison (Courtney Love)
Georg Albert Ruthenberg (Pat Smear)
Georg Albert Ruthenberg (Pat Smear)
Chaim Klein Witz (Gene Simmons)
Chaim Klein Witz (Gene Simmons)
James Newell Osterberg, JR. (Iggy Pop)
James Newell Osterberg, JR. (Iggy Pop)
Vincent Damon Furnier (Alice Cooper)
Vincent Damon Furnier (Alice Cooper)
Jeffrey Ross Hyman
Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Ross Hyman)
69 rock stars’ real names
Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Glenn Colvin)
Saul Hudson (Slash)
Saul Hudson (Slash)
Michael Ryan Pritchard (Mike Dirnt)
Michael Ryan Pritchard (Mike Dirnt)
Ronald James Padavona (Ronnie James Dio)
Ronald James Padavona (Ronnie James Dio)
Bree Joanna Alice Robinson (Brody Dalle)
Bree Joanna Alice Robinson (Brody Dalle)
Chad Robert Turton (Chad Kroeger)
Chad Robert Turton (Chad Kroeger)
Kim Bendix Petersen (King Diamond)
Kim Bendix Petersen (King Diamond)
Glenn Allen Anzalone (Glenn Danzig)
Glenn Allen Anzalone (Glenn Danzig)
James Owen Sullivan (The Rev)
James Owen Sullivan (The Rev)
Richard Allan Ream (Rikki Rockett)
Richard Allan Ream (Rikki Rockett)
Anthony Scott Flippen (Scott Stapp)
Anthony Scott Flippen (Scott Stapp)
Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (Synyster Gates)
Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (Synyster Gates)
Deborah Anne Dyer (Skin)
Deborah Anne Dyer (Skin)
Nicholas Jones (Nicky Wire)
Nicholas Jones (Nicky Wire)
Andrew Fetterly Wilkes Krier (Andrew W.K.)
Andrew Fetterly Wilkes Krier (Andrew W.K.)
Zachary James Baker (Zacky Vengeance)
Zachary James Baker (Zacky Vengeance)
Amy Lynn Hartzler (Amy Lee)
Amy Lynn Hartzler (Amy Lee)
Robert James Ritchie (Kid Rock)
Robert James Ritchie (Kid Rock)
William Perks (Bill Wyman)
William Perks (Bill Wyman)
Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson (Joey Tempest)
Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson (Joey Tempest)
Jeffrey Isbell (Izzy Stradlin)
Jeffrey Isbell (Izzy Stradlin)
Stanley Eisen (Paul Stanley)
Stanley Eisen (Paul Stanley)
Henry Garfield (Henry Rollins)
Henry Garfield (Henry Rollins)
Colin Flooks (Cozy Powell)
Colin Flooks (Cozy Powell)
Richard Harrison (Rick Parfitt)
Richard Harrison (Rick Parfitt)
Vincent Neil Wharton (Vince Neil)
Vincent Neil Wharton (Vince Neil)
Michael McKagan (Duff McKagan)
Michael McKagan (Duff McKagan)
Ian Kilmister (Lemmy)
Ian Kilmister (Lemmy)
John Baldwin (John Paul Jones)
John Baldwin (John Paul Jones)
Joan Larkin (Joan Jett)
Joan Larkin (Joan Jett)
Peter Byford (Biff Byford)
Peter Byford (Biff Byford)
Ray Burns (Captain Sensible)
Ray Burns (Captain Sensible)
Keith Palmer (Maxim Reality)
Keith Palmer (Maxim Reality)
Peter Baker (Ginger Baker)
Peter Baker (Ginger Baker)
Darrell Abbott (Dimebag Darrell)
Darrell Abbott (Dimebag Darrell)
William Michael Albert Broad (Billy Idol)
William Michael Albert Broad (Billy Idol)
Eric Patrick Clapp (Eric Clapton)
Eric Patrick Clapp (Eric Clapton)
Susan Janet Ballion (Siouxsie Sioux)
Susan Janet Ballion (Siouxsie Sioux)
David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones (David Bowie)
David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones (David Bowie)
Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)
Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)
John Simon Ritchie (Sid Vicious)
John Simon Ritchie (Sid Vicious)
Paul Daniel Frehley (Ace Frehley)
Paul Daniel Frehley (Ace Frehley)
Sebastian Bierk (Sebastian Bach)
Sebastian Bierk (Sebastian Bach)
Louis Firbank (Lou Reed)
Louis Firbank (Lou Reed)
John Graham Mellor (Joe Strummer)
John Graham Mellor (Joe Strummer)
Robert Bartleh Cummings (Rob Zombie)
Robert Bartleh Cummings (Rob Zombie)
Mark Feld (Marc Bolan)
Mark Feld (Marc Bolan)
David Howell Evans (The Edge)
David Howell Evans (The Edge)
Marvin Lee Aday (Meatloaf)
Marvin Lee Aday (Meatloaf)
Steven Victor Tallarico (Steven Tyler)
Steven Victor Tallarico (Steven Tyler)
John Michael Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne)
John Michael Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne)
John Francis Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi)
John Francis Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi)
John Anthony Gillis (Jack White)
John Anthony Gillis (Jack White)
Paul David Hewson (Bono)
Paul David Hewson (Bono)
To date, the band have sold more than 80million records worldwide and have scooped six Grammy Awards. In 2012, the Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea has been a member of the supergroups Atoms for Peace, Antemasque, Pigface, and Rocket Juice & the Moon, and he’s collaborated with acts including The Mars Volta, Johnny Cash and Tom Waits.
He has also briefly performed as a member of Jane’s Addiction, What Is This? and Fear.
Flea’s Red Hot Chili Peppers band mate Anthony Kiedis released his acclaimed autobiography Scar Tissue in 2004.